The next morning, the bubbles drifting over the Sabaody Archipelago caught the sunlight, creating colorful halos in the air.
For once, Kyle was up early. He stood on the pier of Grove 1, the sea breeze gently rustling his long black hair. He was alone, without any of his usual attendants. A medium-sized merchant ship, flying the flag of the merchant guild under Caron's control, slowly pulled up to the dock. The gangplank was lowered, and several guards in black suits saluted Kyle as they secured it.
A gentle woman was the first to walk off the ship, followed by an energetic little boy.
"Rouge, it's been a long time," Kyle said, walking up to her with a warm smile on his face.
Portgas D. Rouge looked as gentle as ever. Time seemed to have been especially kind to her, leaving only a hint of a mother's strength in the lines around her eyes.
"Kyle, you've gone to so much trouble, even sending a ship to pick us up," Rouge said, her voice soft and a little embarrassed.
"We're family, there's no need to be so formal." Kyle's gaze shifted to the little boy beside her.
Five-year-old Ace still had some baby fat on his cheeks, which were dotted with freckles. A noticeable band-aid was stuck to his forehead. His short black hair was a bit messy, but his eyes were bright and filled with a stubborn, fiery spirit.
"Uncle Kyle!" Ace called out excitedly, looking up at him.
Kyle crouched down to his level and gently flicked his forehead. "Yo, where have you been running wild this time? Is that a souvenir from a fight?"
Ace rubbed his forehead and grinned, showing two rows of small, white teeth. "It wasn't a fight! I fell when I was exploring Mt. Colubo! Luckily, Auntie Dadan carried me back!"
He spoke with great excitement, completely missing the helpless look his mother was giving him. Ace then hugged Kyle's arm and sighed dramatically. "Uncle Kyle, you have to save me! Because of this, Mama won't let me go out for a whole month!"
"A whole month?" Kyle pretended to be shocked. "That sounds awful."
He ruffled Ace's messy hair. "Try not to be so reckless next time, and don't make your mom worry so much. Maybe when you go back, you'll make some good friends. It's always safer to go exploring with someone else."
The group chatted as they walked through the bustling streets toward Kyle's villa. This was Ace's first time in such a busy and amazing place. His eyes darted everywhere, curiously watching the bubbles float through the sky and staring at all the different shops.
When the massive, palace-like villa built into the side of a giant mangrove tree came into view, his small mouth dropped open in an "O" of astonishment.
"Whoa—" he gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "What a… what a big house!"
Inside, the luxurious but tasteful decorations made him even more amazed.
"Uncle Kyle! Mama told me a long time ago that you're a great pirate!" Ace shouted, running a lap around the spacious hall. He finally stopped in front of Kyle, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "So, do all great pirates live in huge houses like this? It's so cool!"
Kyle was amused by his energy. He sat down casually on the sofa and asked, "What about you, Ace? What do you want to be when you grow up?"
The question was like lighting a fuse. Ace immediately puffed out his small chest and announced loudly, "When I grow up, I'm going to sea too! I'm going to be a great pirate, just like Uncle Kyle!"
Rouge, who had just accepted a cup of black tea from Sakura, nearly spilled it. Her wrist trembled as a weary smile crossed her face. Kyle, however, just looked at Ace with interest, not saying anything right away.
Seeing that Kyle was quiet, Ace furrowed his little brow, resting a finger on his chin as if deep in thought. The hall was silent for a moment.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as if he had solved a great mystery. He clapped his hands together and muttered, "Wait a minute… Uncle Kyle is already a great pirate…"
He put his hands on his hips, and his expression became incredibly serious. Looking straight at Kyle, he declared with absolute certainty, "Then I'll just become a Marine! I'm going to be the Marine King! Wahahahaha!"
"Pfft—"
Kyle sprayed the mouthful of tea he had just sipped all over the floor.
Beside him, Rouge was completely baffled by her son's strange train of thought and could only shake her head with a helpless sigh.
Kyle wiped his mouth, trying to hold back a laugh, and patted Ace's head solemnly. "Hmm, well, the highest rank in the Marines is Fleet Admiral, but 'Marine King' definitely sounds more powerful than 'Pirate King.' But whether you become a pirate or a Marine, you have to remember the most important thing."
His expression softened. "Don't make your mom worry anymore, okay?"
Ace was stunned for a second, then nodded firmly. He glanced at his mother, his eyes clear and determined.
"I promise!" He thumped his chest. "I'll definitely protect Mama! Not like that scumbag old man who just left us and went to heaven!"
A child's words are innocent, but they can also be the most painful. Rouge's gentle smile faltered. A deep, unspoken sadness flashed in her eyes before she quickly hid it behind her usual tenderness.
"Ace, you shouldn't talk about your father like that."
However, the heavy atmosphere she expected never arrived.
"Hahahaha!"
Kyle burst out laughing, a loud, booming sound that filled the room. He bent over, laughing so hard that tears started to form in his eyes. He picked Ace up and set him on his lap, ruffling his hair with affection.
"You said it, Ace! When you become the Marine King, you'll be the one to catch the Pirate King! Anyone who dares to call themselves the Pirate King and show their face will be taken down in an instant!"
If Ace really becomes a Marine, Kyle thought, and Luffy becomes a pirate, and Sabo joins the Revolutionary Army… wow, the three brothers ruling the sea!
Kyle cleared his throat, his expression becoming a little more serious. "However, Ace, whether you become the Marine King or the Pirate King, there's one thing you can't do without."
"I know!" Ace blurted out immediately. He jumped off Kyle's lap and stood up straight. "It's strength! You need to be super strong!"
His adult-like confidence made Rouge, Sakura, and Rin chuckle.
"Oh?" Kyle raised an eyebrow. "It seems you already understand that. So, where does your strength come from?"
At this question, Ace's little face filled with pride. He puffed out his chest, held his chin high, and announced, "I'm training, of course! A while ago, I found a legendary holy sword on Mt. Colubo! I'm teaching myself swordsmanship now!"
"A holy sword?" Kyle asked, pretending to be curious.
Ace nodded seriously, describing it with great detail. "That's right! The sword was all silver-white, and it had strange patterns on the handle…"
"Ace…"
Rouge, who had been smiling gently, finally had to interrupt. She rubbed her forehead, looking a bit tired. "That wasn't a holy sword. That was a broken piece of pipe from Dadan's bathroom."
The air in the room instantly went still. Ace's triumphant expression froze on his face, then crumbled. He whipped around to look at his mother, ready to argue, but under Rouge's gentle gaze, all his confidence disappeared.
"It's… it's not a pipe…" he mumbled.
His voice got quieter and quieter until he finally turned his head away, pouting. His cheeks were puffed up like two steamed buns. Kyle fought to keep a straight face, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. He glanced across the hall, and his eyes landed on a quiet figure sitting on a sofa in the corner.
Mihawk was holding a cup of black tea, slowly savoring it. His hawk-like golden eyes were calmly focused on the red liquid swirling in the cup.
Kyle turned back to the sulking Ace and said in a serious voice, "Swordsmanship, huh… That's a very difficult skill. It's not easy to learn on your own."
He paused, then tilted his chin in Mihawk's direction. "As it happens, that big brother over there, Mihawk, has always wanted to learn swordsmanship but doesn't know how. Ace, do you think you could teach him?"
Ace's attention was immediately captured. He followed Kyle's gaze and saw a serious-looking man sitting by himself. The most noticeable thing about him was the enormous black cross resting beside him.
What a strange person, Ace thought. But he's Uncle Kyle's friend, so he must be a good guy. And he wants to learn swordsmanship, so he must be ambitious.
Having figured this out, Ace instantly got his confidence back. He puffed out his chest, put his hands on his hips, and marched over to Mihawk with short, determined steps.
"Hey! Are you Big Brother Mihawk?" Ace asked, tilting his head all the way back to look up at him.
Mihawk put down his teacup and looked down at the little boy who barely came up to his knees. He shot a helpless glare at Kyle, who was grinning from the other sofa.
Ace didn't seem to notice. "Uncle Kyle said you want to learn swordsmanship? No problem! I can teach you!" he declared. He patted his small chest with a look of great reliability. "Leave it to me."
Kyle leaned back on the sofa, enjoying the show. Even Robin, who was sitting nearby, put down her book to watch with interest.
Seeing that Mihawk wasn't responding, Ace assumed he was just shy and became even more enthusiastic. He pointed his small hand at the giant black object beside Mihawk.
"Don't worry, Big Brother Mihawk," he said in a sympathetic tone. "Once I teach you, you'll be able to protect yourself. Then you won't have to carry such a big cross around with you everywhere and pray to be kept safe."
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